SLE often shines a spotlight on venues, performances and
activities that take place across the grid. Most of the time you see interviews
with business owners or self promoters, this time we are taking you behind the
scenes to meet the staff that help make it all happen.

Paramount Playhouse first opened its doors in December of
2012. Today it is known as home to classy burlesque, comedy and other fine
entertainment in an elegant yet casual atmosphere. The performances you may
have seen or heard about most recently are Cleo and the Czar for the month of
April, as well as past performances featuring Christmas Tails, New Year’s
Spectacular, Mardi Gras, special performances by Glenn Bunjie and Elvis BubbaC
Johns, Fab Four and The Beatles Tributes, Dancers’ Showcase, and Sexy Coast to
Coast. Paramount Playhouse sure has been busy between rehearsals and show times
to deliver quality entertainment that is very similar to going to the Big Apple
and taking in a Broadway show. The difference is, admission is free and the
interaction between a global community of guests and staff is paramount.

The modest Pathmaker Campbell-MacGregor is the owner but
he wanted us to shift the spotlight and attention on those that help him provide
Second Life residents with Paramount Playhouse shows.

Pathmaker told The SL Enquirer, “The creation of the paramount was making dreams come true - and
those were the dreams of my partners LeAnn and Lotta - to have a place to
perform and to be able to exercise our own creativity. Pat and Bo
Sharpshire, the owners of the Sprit Marina Sim made that dream possible; they
are dear friends and the physical building of the Paramount was Pat's gift to
us. But a working theater is much more than three owners and a building,
no matter how dedicated the owners nor how large their dreams. Our Cast
members are what make it possibly for the Paramount to function and it's very
important to me that they receive the credit and recognition they deserve”.

With that said, let’s meet the staff J

With my list of staff members in hand, I contact them to
see what they do and gather their thoughts on Paramount Playhouse. Here is the
response I received.

Ebony Seorn is a designer at Vanity House of
Designs. She is also the EMC and maintenance manager for Paramount Playhouse. This is an important role because it helps
maintain the foundation for each performance. When asked about her role Ebony
said, “I Love being an energetic person
and bringing smiles to guests that show up for events”.

That
is exactly what is needed to draw a crowd to a venue. She also acts as a
fill-in when a dancer is unable to make it to a show. You can tell Ebony loves
what she does and being part of the team. She shared with me some kind words
about Pathmaker and Paramount Playhouse.

“Even though I have done a lot for Pathmaker I
would definitely like to say that he and the other managers do an excellent job
on getting everyone together and bringing in amazing sets that bring more of an
eye-catch for the audience. Path also brings a lot of great music, as he is a
dj himself at Sunshine's Cove, he would usually pick out a song for a part of
the set that shine both the dancer and the show”.

She went on to say, “Being at Paramount Playhouse is like being at home. The warm welcome when
arriving, the amazing plays that literally just grab at you, the feel of never
wanting to leave but want the show to just continue on and on, and that last
feel on just wanting to thank everyone for bringing a smile on your face and
making your day feel great”.

It is important in keeping a happy
staff, especially in Second Life. I found that this is a quality that Pathmaker
has because other staff members expressed the same love for Paramount
Playhouse.

Starlena
Hansen –Darkfireis a dancer. She helps wherever
needed and enjoys spending time with her family and being a part of the
Paramount Playhouse group. Starlena
said, “Path as well as Lotta and my
sister LeAnn are very very wonderful people. They all have been
there to support and help me and have accepted me as part of the
family/team. They are what keep me together at Paramount as well as
outside the playhouse”.

Her comment shows that it is not
all about work for the Paramount Playhouse team. They see each other like a
family. Starlena went on to share, “being with Paramount has been a wonderful
experience. I have been with them since the Playhouse opened up and
I have enjoyed every minute of being with all the members”. She would love
to see more audience members at each performance.

Susan Sharpshire is also
a dancer. She is featured in the current Cleo and the Czar Playbill and was in
The Beatles Tribute show. Susan loves working closely with Pathmaker and the
team because they all share a close bond. Susan told the SL Enquirer, “Path really cares about his staff, listens
to their input and does a wonderful job of making everyone feel needed and
wanted in the company and the show”.

Belle
Burner is another dancer. She has been featured in Mardi
Gras, Beatles Tribute, and Dancer's Showcase. Belle jokingly says, “We are like a small close-knit (dysfunctional) family. We
truly care for each other SL & RL”.
She went on to say, Pathmaker is passionate about the
Paramount Playhouse. He does it for the fun and the passion of it and
asks for nothing in return. He is a genuinely nice and caring person.
It’s rare breed in any Life :) real or second”.Belle’s passion
for performing is for fun and to meet new people.She encourages new people to join Paramount Playhouse and says with
a smile, “We've never met a stranger at Paramount Playhouse.”

Demonia
Venom aka Demmy is a hostess and dancer. What she likes most about Paramount Playhouse is the people. She has not yet been featured in any of the shows but Demmy is part of the team for the enjoyment of it and having fun. She told the SL Enquirer that Path is a great man and that she is honored to be his friend.

Phatbottomgrl
Clarity or Phat as she is called by the team was a hostess and greeter. She
said that the staff is always so welcoming and cheerful. Phat has also been
featured in The Beatles Tribute show.

She had this to say about Pathmaker, “youcan
tell he puts his everything into each performance, he takes pride in his staff
and does the absolute best of his ability to make people feel welcomed.
It is a small and intimate place where everyone is made to feel part of the
team”. This seems to be a common belief in the team.

Phat also
stated, “I Loved working with everyone there, it
is just a shame that the time zone thing did not work to my advantage. I
had the immense pleasure of working with Pathmaker before and hope to again at
a later date. I wish nothing but success for him and Paramount Playhouse”.

VictoriaJuliette
Resident was also part of the team, but she hasn't actively danced in months.
She loved to choreograph and script themed sets. What Victoria liked most about
Paramount Playhouse was the creative expression and getting to be part of something
much bigger than herself, but primarily the amazing people she has been honored
to work with on these superb endeavors.

She went on to tell SLE, “Pathmaker is
one of the finest human beings on this planet, not just in Second Life. This man executes a brilliant
production each time; the whole concept and facility are mainly his, from the
burlesque concept through the lion's share of it's repeatedly excellent
performances”. She expressed that she loves the team and misses the time before full time work in the real world.

Those are some great words from former team
members. This shows that the work this team does, leaves a lasting impression.

Lotta
Difference plays a huge part in Paramount Playhouse. She is Co Owner and set
designer and she does an amazing job of it. Each set is themed and detailed to
match the dancer’s performances. Lotta says,
“I enjoy the atmosphere, audience participation, the dancing, the costumes,
picking songs, and building the sets. Really too many things to list! I look
forward to logging into Second Life and working on something that pertains to
the theater”.

I think that is exactly the enthusiasm needed to have that
role.

Lotta agrees with the team when she told
the SL Enquirer that, Pathmaker truly is
as dedicated to the theater as he says he is. He is there for us for extra help
with acts and songs choices. He loves the theater and having one of his own, is
a dream came true for him. So us girls do our best!”

She also shared that she has grown to
love the theater.“I never really
knew too much about burlesque until a few months ago, and I enjoy doing it. I
appreciate the comments people have on the sets I build and poster I design for
our shows”, Lotta explained.

LeAnnBurt Resident is a Co-
Owner and the Director but she describes herself as the Jane of all trades. She
writes scripts, handles promotions, seek out live artists to perform, help come
up with new themes for shows, select music, costuming, choreography etc. as
well as performing. If that isn’t a full plate, LeAnn also loves to dance and
come up with new choreography, but it comes second to the joy she gets from
interacting with the audience. Lotta explains, “Our shows are set up so that each dancer
has a solo act as well as performing in group numbers, it allows each
artist to have their moment in the spotlight, so I guess you'd say I've been
featured in all of them"

Speaking of the spotlight,
when asked about Paramount Playhouse and Pathmaker, LeAnn said, “Paramount Playhouse is a labor of love, and
no one has put more love into it than Path. This is his dream and we are
privileged to help make it a reality”.

Everyone so far had only
great things to say, but it didn’t end there. What is a Paramount Playhouse performance
with a little comedy relief?

Vicki Eriksen
is a comedienne. Her role as she says it
is to torture people. She explains, “Well
...Paramount
Playhouselets me invade
the stage and tell some jokes and stories while they change sets and such. 5-10
minutes of Vicki .. And people are more than ready for the next act from the
Paramount Dancers”. Vicki likes to make people laugh, and Paramount gives her the
opportunity to do that. She says, “At
least if you define groaning and tearing your hair out in desperation, like my
audience usually does, as symptoms of laughing”.

When asked which performances she has
been featured in, Vicki candidly said, “I
think most people would say that the correct answer to that one may be ...
"Way too many"

The SL Enquirer has to agree with Vicki’s
talent for comedy. She left the crowd in stitches at the last performance SLE
attended. Her jokes are edgy but hilarious and a perfect treat during
intermission.

When asked to share her thoughts on
Pathmaker and the paramount Playhouse, Vicki said, “I'm a comedian, but let me be serious here for a moment. I only make
guest appearances at Paramount, so I can say this without engaging in any form
of self praise: Setting up shows and plays like the ones at Paramount Playhouse
takes enormous amounts of time, energy, skill and dedication both from
Pathmaker and his staff, more than most people probably realize. I do hope that
their efforts will be rewarded with a steadily growing audience ... they really
deserve it!”

Want to
check out Paramount Playhouse and see the team in action? Join them on April 21st
@ 12pm SLT for Cleo and the Czar. Free Admission and a show you won’t forget!